British people pride themselves on their polite manners towards one another in public. They often use the word ‘sorry’—even when they don’t really mean it! Usually, if they want to ask a stranger for the time, they would start by saying ‘Sorry to bother you. Do you know what time it is?’ If they’re five minutes late for an appointment (约会), they would generally greet the person by saying ‘Sorry I’m late!’
They use the word ‘sorry’ in so many different situations that the meaning of the word has changed a little over time. The two main dictionary definitions (释义) of ‘sorry’ are: 1) feeling sad for someone else because of their problems or bad luck; 2) feeling regret because you’ve done something wrong. Now, think about this. Normally, when they want to ask a stranger a question, they start with ‘Sorry to bother you’. In this situation, they aren’t saying sorry because they feel sad for that person or because they feel regret.
So what does ‘sorry’ really mean? And why do British people use it so much? Well, in the British culture, saying ‘sorry’ is a way to be polite, especially to people who they don’t know very well. It’s also a very clever way to get what they want. In a recent experiment, an actor went up to a different strangers on a rainy day to ask if he could use their mobile phones in order to make a call. When he went up to one group of strangers and asked them without saying ‘sorry’ first, he was only 9 per cent successful in borrowing their phones. However, when he said ‘sorry’ to another group of strangers about the bad weather before asking if he could use their mobile phones, he was 47 per cent successful. So maybe saying ‘sorry’ is not just being polite, but it is also a good method to get what they want too!
Title: Why do 1. people say sorry? | |
Main points | Detailed information |
The situations in which they say ‘2.’ | Asking for the time Being 3. for an appointment |
The change of the meaning of ‘sorry’ | The two main 4. definitions of ‘sorry’; Feeling sad for 5. problems or bad luck Feeling regret 6. of one’s own mistakes When British people ask a stranger a question by 7. with ‘sorry’, they are saying sorry neither because they feel sad for that person nor because they feel regret. |
The 8. meaning of ‘sorry’ | A way to be polite A good way to get 9. they want The result of an experiment shows it’s 10. for one to succeed in borrowing a mobile phone by saying ‘sorry’. |
科目：初中英语 来源：新人教版2017-2018学年八年级上册英语第二单元测试卷(无听力） 题型：阅读单选
I’m Bob. I work at night from Monday to Thursday. So in the daytime (白天), I often sleep for at least 7 hours. Then I get up, have some food and watch TV. I usually watch TV for more than two hours every day. At 7:00 p.m., I go to work by bike.
But on weekends, my life is different. I usually sleep at night and do different activities in the daytime. For example, last weekend was quite full for me. On Saturday morning, I went to learn dance. I have dance lessons once a week. In the afternoon, I went to play basketball with my friends. We played for three hours and felt excited. I thought it was good for my health. On Sunday morning, I drove to the dentist for teeth cleaning. In the afternoon, I went to the movies with my friend, Tom. I thought the movie was interesting, but Tom thought it was difficult to understand (理解).
1.Bob works days every week.
A. three B. four C. five D. six
2.Bob goes to work .
A. by bus B. at 7:00a.m. C. by car D. at 7:00p.m.
3.Bob went to last Sunday morning.
A. the dentist B. play basketball C. the movies D. have dance lessons
4.Bob thought the movie was .
A. interesting B. boring C. exciting D. difficult
5.Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Bob usually watches TV for more than two hours every day.
B. Bob sleeps in the daytime on weekends.
C. Bob has dance lessons once a week.
D. Bob played basketball for three hours last Saturday.
1.B 2.D 3.A 4.A 5.B 【解析】 本文介绍了鲍勃的工作生活情况。他从星期一工作到星期四，晚上上班，白天睡觉。但是他在周末晚上睡觉，白天做不同的活动。 1.B 推理判断题。根据I’m Bob. I work at night from Monday to Thursday.可知鲍勃从星期一工作到星期四，故推断他一周工作四天，故选B。 ...查看答案和解析>>
科目：初中英语 来源：牛津译林版（9A）英语Unit 1 Know yourself单元测试卷 题型：阅读单选
The train started moving. It was packed with people of all ages. Most of them were working men and women and young college boys and girls. Near the window sat an old man with his son, who looked about thirty years old. As the train moved, the son was filled with joy because he was very excited at the scenery(景色) outside. He said in a high voice, “See Dad, the green trees and the scenery are very beautiful!” It made the other people feel very strange. Everyone started talking in a low voice about the old man's son. Suddenly, it started raining. Raindrops fell on the travelers through the opened window. Seeing the rain, the old man's son said happily, “See Dad, how beautiful the rain is!” Hearing these words, a young lady became angry with the man, as the raindrops were dropping on her new clothes. She couldn't help shouting at the noisy son and his father.
“Can't you see it is raining? You! Old man! If your son is not feeling well, get him to a mental hospital(精神病院) quickly and please don't disturb(干扰) us any more!” The old man's face turned slightly red and then in a low voice, he replied, “We are on the way back from hospital. He was blind at birth. Only last week he can see again. The rain and the nature are new to him. Please forgive him.” All the other people became quiet.
1.What did people think of the son's behavior? They thought he was .
A. lovely B. funny C. strange D. clever
2.What was wrong with the son when he was born?
A. He had mental illness. B. He couldn't see.
C. He couldn't hear. D. He couldn't walk.
3.Why did the young lady angry with the man? Because .
A. the scenery outside was beautiful B. it was raining
C. the raindrops were dropping on her new clothes D. the son was noisy
4.What do you think of the young lady?
A. She was friendly to the man. B. She was rude to the man.
C. She was clever. D. She was too noisy.
1.C 2.B 3.C 4.B 【解析】火车上有很多人，其中有一对父子，儿子的行为举止和所说的话让火车上的人都感到很奇怪。因为被从窗户飘进来的雨淋了衣服，一个年轻的女士还很生这对父子的气。当这个老人解释了年轻人的举止之后，所有的人都沉默了。 1.细节理解题。根据短文中It made the other people feel very strange. Everyon...查看答案和解析>>
科目：初中英语 来源：牛津译林版（9A）英语Unit 1 Know yourself单元测试卷 题型：单选题
-You have a beautiful voice. - .
A. Don’t make fun of me B. Just so so
C. No, you can’t say so D. That’s very kind of you to say so
D 【解析】句意：-你的噪音很好听。-你能这么说真是太好了。Don’t make fun of me.不要取笑我了；Just so so.一般般；No, you can’t say so.不，你不能这么说；That’s very kind of you to say so.你这么说太好了。当我们收到对方的赞美的时候，应向对方表达感谢，因此应选D。查看答案和解析>>
科目：初中英语 来源：四川省广安市2018年中考英语试卷 题型：阅读单选
12).
Friendship Restaurant
We have different kinds of Japanese food here. The food menu is in Japanese and Chinese. All the waiters and waitresses can speak at least one foreign language.
Tel: 312--9997
Time:11:30 am-10:00 pm
Friendship Restaurant
We have different kinds of Japanese food here. The food menu is in Japanese and Chinese. All the waiters and waitresses can speak at least one foreign language.
Tel: 312--9997
Time:11:30 am-10:00 pm
Volunteer Project
Maybe you want to help others but don't know how. Then the Volunteer Project will help you. Here you will get the best idea of volunteering.
Call 822--5566 to join it.
Email address: [email protected]
Volunteer Project
Maybe you want to help others but don't know how. Then the Volunteer Project will help you. Here you will get the best idea of volunteering.
Call 822--5566 to join it.
Email address: [email protected]
Dream Comer
Do you want to improve your English? Do you want to practise your English with native speakers? If yes, why not join the Dream Corner? Come here on Friday afternoon every week.
Dream Comer
Do you want to improve your English? Do you want to practise your English with native speakers? If yes, why not join the Dream Corner? Come here on Friday afternoon every week.
Red Bird Club
Do you like dancing? Do you want to show your cool dance at parties? Join us and make your dream come true.
Closed on Tuesday.
Call 822--3331 for more information.
Red Bird Club
Do you like dancing? Do you want to show your cool dance at parties? Join us and make your dream come true.
Closed on Tuesday.
Call 822--3331 for more information.
Underground World
Here you will find different kinds of fishes and even some kinds of sharks. You will fcel that you are in the sea but of course this is not true. If you like fishes, just pay a visit here.
Time: 9:30 am--5: 30 pm
Underground World
Here you will find different kinds of fishes and even some kinds of sharks. You will fcel that you are in the sea but of course this is not true. If you like fishes, just pay a visit here.
Time: 9:30 am--5: 30 pm
1.In the Friendship Restaurant you can eat ______ food
A. Chinese
B. Japanese
C. English
D. French
2.Sarah wants to do some volunteer work. She can call _______ to get some ideas.
A. 846-3809
B. 312-9997
C. 822-3331
D. 822-5566
3.The Red Bird Club is closed on ______ .
A. Tuesday
B. Monday
C. Saturday
D. Thursday
4.According to the ad(广告), you can see ________ in the Underground World.
A. volunteers
B. excellent dancers
C. sea animals
D. waiters and waitresses
5.If you want to practise your English with native speakers, you can join ________.
A. the Red Bird Club
B. the Volunteer Project
C. the Dream Comer
D. the Underground World
1.B 2.D 3.A 4.C 5.C 【解析】 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.查看答案和解析>>
科目：初中英语 来源：江苏省姜堰市2017-2018学年八年级下学期期末考试英语试卷 题型：阅读单选
A group of people asked this question to a group of 4-to-8-year-old children. ＂What does love mean?＂ The answers were surprising. The children would answer like they did below.
＂When my grandmother hurt her knees, she couldn’t bent (弯腰) over and paint her toenails (脚指甲) any more. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands hurt too. That’s love.＂(Rebecca–age 8)
＂Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don’t shout at them because you know it would hurt their feelings.＂ (Samantha–age 6)
＂Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.＂ (Terri–age 4)
＂I let my big sister pick on (捉弄) me because my mum says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her.＂ (Bethany–age 4)
＂I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new clothes.＂(Lauren–age 4)
＂Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.＂( Elaine –age 5)
＂My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.＂(Clear–age 5)
＂You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ if you don’t mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.＂ (Jessica–age 8)
1.The passage mainly tells us about ___________.
A. what ＂life＂ means to children B. what ＂family＂ means to children
C. what ＂friends＂ means to children D. what ＂love＂ means to children
2.Who told us the love between mum and dad?
A. Clear. B. Elaine. C. Rebecca. D. Lauren.
3.What is love according to Terri?
A. Love is what pleases you when you are tired.
B. Love is the care between husband and wife.
C. Love is a rest when you are tired.
D. Love is a kiss from parents.
4.What does Jessica mean about love?
A. Too much love is no love. B. You should say love more often.
C. You mean what you think. D. Say love more often if you mean it.
5.Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Rebecca’s grandmother ever couldn’t bend over.
B. Bethany is willing to be picked on by any other person.
C. If Samantha becomes angry, she will not shout at others.
D. Lauren likes to wear her sister’s old clothes better.
1. D 2. B 3. A 4. D 5. B 【解析】 本文讲述了一群人向一群4至8岁的孩子提出“爱意味着什么？”的问题，孩子们给出了很多不一样的答案。 1.句意：这段话主要告诉我们“爱”对孩子意味着什么。A.“生活”对儿童意味着什么B.“家庭”对儿童意味着什么C.“朋友”对孩子的意义D.“爱”对孩子意味着什么。原文“A group of people...查看答案和解析>>
科目：初中英语 来源：江苏省姜堰市2017-2018学年八年级下学期期末考试英语试卷 题型：单选题
— Have you solved your problem?
— I’ve kept on thinking about that matter__________, but I have had no idea.
A. at times B. some time
C. at a time D. all the time
D 【解析】 试题—你解决了你的问题了吗？—我一直在考虑这个问题，但我还没有主意。A. at times有时； B. some time一段时间； C. at a time一次； D. all the time总是，一直，根据句意此题选D。查看答案和解析>>
科目：初中英语 来源：江苏省姜堰市2017-2018学年八年级下学期期末考试英语试卷 题型：听短对话回答问题
What will they buy at the supermarket?
A. Bananas and apples. B. Apples and cakes. C. Oranges and cakes.
B 【解析】M: Mum, would you like to go to the supermarket with me? I want to buy some apples. W: OK, I am free, and I need to buy some cakes.查看答案和解析>>
科目：初中英语 来源：八年级英语下册Unit1-10适当形式检测题 题型：完成句子
选择for或since完成句子：
1.I have been here _____five months ago.
2.He has been a soldier ____ about two months.
3.Great changes have taken place _____ you left.
4.His grandpa has been dead ____ ten years.
5.I have studied English ______ I was 12 years old.
6.We have lived here _______ 1990.
7.The boy has had a bad cold ______ last night.
8.I have waited ____ two hours.
1. since 2. for 3. since 4. for 5. since 6. since 7. since 8. for 【解析】 1.since 句意：自从五个月前，我已经在这里了。since引导的时间状语从句或状语，表示从过去开始，此处根据ago表示从以前某时开始，故用since。 2.for 句意：他已经成为士...查看答案和解析>>
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